Turnbull, Conroy trade blows on NBN policy

Opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull has called on Communications Minister Stephen Conroy to “explain why he refused to do this analysis [of alternatives to the NBN] before he committed taxpayers to this project”.
Photo: Richard Briggs

Opposition communications spokesman
Malcolm Turnbull
slated the official broadband policy after the NBN Co chief said the design could yet change.

“After four years of refusing to examine any alternatives to NBN Co’s fibre to the premises strategy,
Mike Quigley
is now calling for an examination of all the technology options," Mr Turnbull said on Sunday. He called on Communications Minister
Stephen Conroy
to “explain why he refused to do this analysis before he committed taxpayers to this project".

“None of this is too late to talk about," Mr Quigley said. “[Fibre-to-the-basement] is definitely not too late to do . . . likewise you can deploy tens of thousands of cabinets and deploy FTTN [fibre to the node] – that’s not out of the question either [although] it’s got some complications." He called on the Communications Alliance industry body to study the rival technologies.

A spokesman for Senator Conroy said none of the FTTN options considered were “value for money", adding Mr Turnbull’s plan would be “out-dated before it is finished".

Independent analyst Chris Coughlan said changing the roll-out would be simple as NBN Co had not reached many premises. “The biggest issue for Malcolm Turnbull to change would be negotiations with Telstra around use of the copper network," he said. “Re-opening those negotiations would lead to Telstra looking for a vast increase in scope...and you’re looking at years before you have an outcome."

It’s a view backed up by a recent Macquarie Private Wealth analysis, which said Telstra would be a winner if the Coalition took power.

“Any plan that utilises FTTN will require an agreement with Telstra to either rent or buy that last mile," it said. “Telstra clearly holds the key to an expedient change in policy, which also gives it leverage in such a circumstance.